The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-15
A STORY OF A LAWN MOWER.
How an Economical Yankee Deacon Bough
One In Partne rshtp.

One In Partne rship.
Boston Transcript
81 tell you what" said a suburban friend of
the Listener. as the street-car conductor came
around bearing particularly big and imposing
bell-punch, there's deacon in our church that
ought to be made to carry one of those things
when he makes his collections. if ever any body
ought to be made to wear one"
Why? What has the deacon doneg
"rll tell you the whole story. and when I've
DONE want to know whether if it had hap
pened to you, it wouldn't have destroyed your
confidence in somebody. You see, live next
door to Deacon Sharpley, and my yard is sepa
rated from his just by light picketfence
was wbackng away at the grass my little
lawn the other night with grass-hook; was
just finishing the job, and wondering whether
| should ever be rich enough TO swell
out with a lawn-mower. whom the dea-
out and leaned the fence.
See here said he, you're getting quite
lawn here and am /. We don't either of us
have quite enough business for a lawn-mower,
but together we might have. Say we 60 snucks
on oneP l told him that thought it was a good
idea and would go in with him on a machine.
He said he would manage the purchase, and
would tell me how much half the cost was. So 1
let him 60 and buy the lawn mower, and he
brought a receipted bill for $12 90 in his own
name. | gave him the Sc %. and left the ma
chine and the receipt in his hands.
About two weeks after thar-I'd seen the
deacon showing the lawn-mower around in his
yard in great style in the mean time-I thought
my grass had got up enough to warrant cutting,
and / went to the deacons get the
machine. The deacon was out, they said, buts
the lawn mower was down at Mr.. Smiths
l thought it was little queer that the
deacon had lent machine, but l went
down to Smiths and got it. / thought they
looked little cross when took it, but took it
just the same and moved my lawn. Next night
the deacon came and got it again. and moved
away a while in his back yard. A few days after
that thought it was about time to NOW once
more, and won't to the deacops after the
machine. No machine anywhere around. asked
at the back door
where's the lawn mower2'
I" mir. Smith and got it q little while
ago. said the deacons daughter.
.Mr. Smith! What business had he with our
machinel I didn't ask but l trotted down to
Smiths. found Smith very compacently oil
ing the lawn-mower. and apparently getting it
';WeI.' said l. 4 came after that lawn
mower; but you seem to be getting ready to
use it, l suppose l can wait
Hum said he. I guess the deacon and 1
keep it pretty busy
$50 it seems says II kind of sarcasticaly.
"'Well, we have got our moneys worth out Of
it. you know, says he.
THAT struck me mishty queer remark,
and couldn't help saying. / should think you'd
want get yourself
'Well, says no. looking up little surprised,
Il own half of this one.'
"'You-you own half Of ths? says I,
tonished.
"'Why, certainly" says he; Deacon Sharp
ley and bought this lawn mower together.
81 tell you that took me completely down.
The deacon had completely played US off, one
against the other, and has got pay for
one half the machine. and Smith the
other, calculating get the use of it to NOW
all his own grass for nothing. II he had been
as cautious as he was sharp, and
kept the machine in his own barn, or else in
sisted OH going after it himself l suppose he
might have kept agoing that way. But since
we've found it out. Smith and get along first
rate, but the deacon has to hire an Irishman to
NOW his grass with a scvthe.
"And that's the reason why think the deacon
ought to carry bell punch when he takes up a
collection Don't you think it would be good
schemel"